RegEx for Regular Folk
Learning and science
interactive tutorial
SHOW HN2020
502points
108comments
#51of 3,028 in 2020
Top 2%of 2020 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
20 positive, 10 neutral or asking, 9 mixed, 10 critical, out of 49 comments about the project. Thread score +0.24.
Docs: 13 for, 5 againstDesign: 4 for, 0 againstIdea: 2 for, 0 againstExecution: 0 for, 2 againstPricing: 0 for, 1 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Example-based approach is clear and well chosen
From 3 comments
I like the example based approach. I learn from examples far quicker than I learn from “explanations”. If I attempt to learn from an example and my brain hits an exception, only…
LeonB on HNThis looks like a great resource! Like others, I vastly prefer an example-based style, and the examples are really well chosen and very illustrative. I generally think I know my…
twicetwice on HNVery clear and concise with simple presentation. Good job!
phillipseamore on HN
Good for teaching beginners
From 2 comments
I started teaching Python to my GF(she is working from home and now has plenty of time to do some extra learning). She is not a programmer and I have been giving her small…
120bits on HNI love this! I love RegEx but have struggled trying to “teach” others over the years. In addition to books like this, I often find writing RegEx with something like…
filmgirlcw on HN
Objections
Uses regex syntax before explaining it
From 3 comments
Your examples use * and $ and + before they are explained. Inductive learning goes smoother if new concepts have context. You explain [^ ...] So the use of these examples without…
ggm on HNNeatly presented. However, I'd suggest to reorganize the chapters so that features not yet introduced aren't shown in examples without explanations. For example, you explain…
asicsp on HNHi, very nice RegEx educational site/book. Feedback: - In the chapter https://refrf.shreyasminocha.me/chapters/character-classes an example is given which uses: ``` o ^ character…
nobrains on HN
Introduction too short and jargon-heavy for non-programmers
From 2 comments
Lots of praise here, so I won't re-iterate the good points (presentation, pleasant tone, good structuring) and will head straight to the meat of my issue with the title: This is…
Zhyl on HNConstructive criticism: I was about to send this to a friend who is new to programming, but the introduction is just too short. It would be great if the introduction included one…
backzerman on HN
Next navigation links broken
From 3 comments
Hey this is great! I noticed that in the "Escapes" chapter, the "Next" link at the bottom of the page goes back to the introduction when it should go to "Groups". I poked around…
appleflaxen on HNFeedback: the “next” link on this page just takes you back to that same page https://refrf.shreyasminocha.me/chapters/introduction
jamesrcole on HNIt seems the “next” button is not working on mobile safari on ios 13. It just reloads the page you’re in. Tried with and without content blockers. However from what i quickly…
asutekku on HN
Requests
Show how to execute regex in code
From 1 comment
This looks really nice but I think it suffers from the same issue a lot of regex tutorials suffer from. It's focusing solely on the regex and not at all on how to actually…
saberworks on HN
Printable single-page version
From 1 comment
Nice guide! As a complete regex-dyslectic i didn't know the slash '/' could be used to make expressions more readable. On another note, since this is supposed to be a book and…
olq on HN
Explain the /g flag earlier
From 2 comments
Just some 2cent feedback - don't assume anything is known. The BASIC lesson doesn't mention anything about /g. Having not touched regex in years I had no idea what that was and…
evo_9 on HNThis is nicely done. It could benefit from some non /g examples on the basics page, especially since flags are not covered until chapter 8. One visual enhancement that could be…
donaldihunter on HN
Questions
Is there a tool showing where a regex fails partway through matching?
From 1 comment
Nice intro. Tangential question. Is there a regex tool that shows where the expression failed ? Not in syntax, but the logical failure point? Would be useful for when an…
binstub on HN
Alternatives named
regex101.com
From 2 comments
Does this help? https://regex101.com
spdustin on HNhttps://regex101.com/ This site is my goto whenever I need to write a complex regex. It's got syntax highlighting, explanations and a tested all rolled into one!
sakekasi on HN
RegExr
From 2 comments
Decent guide. It's great that all the examples are linked to https://regex101.com/ so people can play/explore! More regex resources I rely on: http://www.regexr.com/…
canada_dry on HNRegExr [0] does a great job of showing individual highlights even when they are in a sequential string. You can try to implement this if you want instead of showing a callout…
shanecoin on HN
Expressions app
From 1 comment
I love this! I love RegEx but have struggled trying to “teach” others over the years. In addition to books like this, I often find writing RegEx with something like…
filmgirlcw on HN